Chapter 26 - Final Examinations (2/2)
On the other hand, Harry was worried about the stone, Fluffy is guarding and thinking of a possibility that Snape might have given Hagrid, a dragon egg and exchanged information on Fluffy for his accomplice.
Moreover, ever since he heard that Voldemort might be the one who is drinking Unicorn blood from Firenze, to keep himself alive, Harry thought that possible accomplice might be Voldemort who was looking for a stone to come back again.
Soon, the examinations came in the second week of June. While the Theoretical exam is in the morning, Practical exams are conducted in the afternoon. For the Charms, Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Neal and Hermoine as expected overachieved the result with extra steps different dance styles along with tap dance.
For Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall asked everyone to turn a mice into snuff boxes which Neal overachieved once again by adding diamonds, rubies, and emeralds together to a Platinum box. At first, McGonagall worried that they are real but upon untransfiguring it, she sighed with relief as he passed with flying colors.
For Potions, Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness Potion which Neal excelled once again obviously.
As for Herbology, Astronomy, and History of Magic, only theoretical exams were conducted. Upon completing the last exam, everyone was excited to return to their homes for vacations while the seventh years were feeling sad to leave their second home, the next day.
On the last day of the exam, Dumbledore has gone to the Ministry by coincidence. Hearing about it, Harry said to Ron and Hermoine, ”Dumbledore isn't in the castle. This is the best time for Snape to steal the stone. I'm going to stop him”.
Hermoine scolded, ”don't be a fool. You don't even know many spells and you lost to a second year in the last Annual festival. How are you going to stop a Professor like Snape?”. Harry replied, ”I'm going to get the stone first before him. We can later present it to Dumbledore”.
Hermoine then said, ”what if Prof. McGonagall catches us again? it won't be points deduction. You will be expelled”. Harry sternly replied, ”so, what? If Voldemort comes back, then the first thing he does is killing me, anyway. It doesn't matter whether I'm at school or Privet Drive”.
As the night falls on Hogwarts, The Gryffindor trio under invisible cloak walk towards the forbidden corridor of the 3rd floor. Meanwhile, Neal was stealthily following while Isle is crawling in the front and guiding him somewhere in the dark.
After a while, He safely arrived at a bathroom which looks very gloomy and depressing. He mumbled, ”but this is Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, right. Why have you come here instead?”. As Isle hissed to trust and follow her, He stepped inside the bathroom. He saw under a large, cracked, and spotted mirror were a row of chipped sinks.
The floor was damp and reflected the dull light given off by the stubs of a few candles, burning low in their holders; the wooden doors to the stalls were flaking and scratched and one of them was dangling off its hinges.
He saw a girl-ghost with round spectacles and wearing an old Ravenclaw school uniform sitting near the window at the top and keep sobbing.